THE LATE BLOOMERS' EDUCATION...

Q.) What is the Late Bloomers’ educational status going into his thirties?

A.) Typically none to very little. A Late Bloomer does not see the essentiality of a formal education, (you know…one that produces a piece of paper saying he actually finished something). There are obviously people who have received an education straight out of high school and earned a degree, only to realize that if they poured more effort into it they might have been better than a “C” average college student. I suppose this is also Late Blooming, just not to the degree I am speaking. To be a true Late Bloomer, the realization that a degree is something that would be a significant benefit comes somewhere between 30 and 40 years of age. (Man, I make it sound like it’s a club or something.)

You want some proof of that? Here you go:
I am currently getting my AA in Computer Science and will graduate this year. I am 40 and have been working at this 2 year degree for nearly 5 years. I have taken all of my classes during the evening hours, and do you know who else is in those classes? You guessed it: a bunch of Late Bloomers. On average, the class is made up of folks in their early 30s to mid 40s trying now to achieve what they could not have achieved earlier in life: Their college degree. The“motivator” was not there, and so the attempt was either non-existent or, at best, feeble. (Refer to article post on 7/13/05.) There are a few young’ns in the classes. To be sure, they are not Late Bloomers. Quite the contrary, these kids are go-getters at an early age. Some take night classes during their first summer break after graduating high school simply because they want to get started and can’t wait for September. (The Late Bloomer cannot relate to this alien mindset.)

I would be very curious what the average age is of the folks who participate in continuing education. (I will probably do this research later rather than sooner so don’t hold your breath. I am a Late Bloomer, after all!)

Another point I would like to make is that Late Bloomers usually get far better grades in college than they did in high school. For example: My average grade in high school was around a low “C”. My average grade in college is a mid “A”. (I have two “B”s to my name, one in a math class and one in a programming class, both of which I hated. I did, however, scratch and claw for those “B”s and feel great about them. And I just got my midterm grade for my current class: 99%).

Why is there such a difference in the grades of the past compared to the grades of the present? Because I am now equipped with a motivator (again, refer to article posted 7/13/05). I believe my initial motivator was my wife, Lisa. She encouraged me to go for it. She constantly believed in me even when I thought the class was too hard. When I wanted to settle for a “C”, (which, after all, is better than quitting, right? Well, yes…but not much.), Lisa would clear the path for me to push on through the “wall” (refer to the article posted 7/15/05). She took care of the kids, she kept up the house, and she would ask me how it’s going. Although she continues to do all these things still, I find my motivator is much more internal. My character has been built. I have learned to get past the“wall”. I don’t settle for a mediocre effort. I even feel extreme pressure if Iam struggling in a class.
I WANT THAT “A”!

I talk to the folks with whom I take classes. I ask them how they are doing in the class and why they are now trying to get their degree. I am usually not surprised by the answers. I simply become more and more aware of the fact that I am not an anomaly. I am a Late Bloomer, just like millions and millions of others getting their 2 year degrees in their 30s and 40s.